Michigan to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 657 mile interstate move from Michigan to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Michigan vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Pasties vs St. Louis-style Pizza), real estate & housing (lakehouse/cottage vs colonial/traditional), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Michigan), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pasties and Detroit-style Coneys, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style Pizza & Smoked Brisket
- Missouri housing costs are 1% more expensive than they are in Michigan
- Rent in Missouri is 7.98% more affordable than in Michigan
- Moving from Michigan to Missouri will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Michigan to Missouri movers is Pro-Low Moving
Michigan to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Michigan to Missouri
- Harsh winters
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Milder winters
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- No big lakes
- Fewer cultural events
- Lesser terrain variety
- Great Lakes
- Cultural institutions
- Varied landscapes
Pros of moving from Michigan to Missouri
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Missouri with a lower cost of living
- Swap the traffic congestion of Michigan for less traffic in Missouri
Cons of moving from Michigan to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the Great Lakes in Michigan to live with no big lakes in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural institutions and have to settle for the con of fewer cultural events
- Time to bid farewell to varied landscapes and get used to lesser terrain variety in Missouri
Michigan vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Michigan | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pasties | St. Louis-style Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Detroit-style Coneys | Smoked Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Detroit-style Pizza | St. Louis Ribs |
Most popular vegan food | Cherry Quinoa Salad | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Michigan to Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Pasties of Michigan for the equally delicious St. Louis-style Pizza of Missouri. And while the locals in Michigan rave about their flavorful Detroit-style Coneys and sumptuous Detroit-style Pizza, Missouri residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and St. Louis Ribs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Cherry Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Michigan eateries like Slows Bar BQ, Zingerman's Delicatessen, and Cliff Bell's. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, and The Blue Owl.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Michigan. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Missouri, compared to what you are used to in Michigan. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Michigan and Missouri
Comparison | Michigan | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Lakehouse/Cottage | Colonial/Traditional |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lake access, spacious yards | Historic homes, affordable living |
- The Lakehouse/Cottage architecture that Michigan is known for will be replaced with the Colonial/Traditional architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Michigan's real estate listings that commonly reference lake access and spacious yards, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like historic homes and affordable living.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Missouri is less walkable than Michigan.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Missouri is less bike-friendly than Michigan.
- Missouri has less of an urban feel than Michigan.
- Missouri housing costs are 1% more expensive than they are in Michigan, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Michiganβs $239,770.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 45% increase in Michigan.
- Rent in Missouri is 7.98% more affordable than in Michigan.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Michigan and Missouri
Comparison | Michigan | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Snowstorms, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 79Β°F / 58Β°F | 88Β°F / 67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 17Β°F | 40Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 32.76" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60.66" | 19" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Michigan to Missouri. Missouri gets 21% more sunshine days than Michigan.
- Missouri has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Michigan.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Missouri.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 9 degrees warmer than Michigan.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees warmer than they are in Michigan.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Missouri. Missouri receives 9.2 more inches of rain compared to Michigan.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Michigan and Missouri
Comparison | Michigan | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,986 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 4.25% | 5.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.54% | 0.97% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0% | 4.225% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Automotive | Agriculture, Aerospace, Transportation |
Affluence | Average | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Lower |
Homelessness | Lower | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 3% less than in Michigan
- The COLI in Missouri will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in Michigan
- The state income tax in MO is 5.4% compared to 4.25% in MI
- The affluence in Missouri is moderate compared to average in Michigan
- The poverty level is lower in Missouri compared to moderate in Michigan
- In terms of homelessness, it is lower in Michigan and higher in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Michigan vs. Missouri
Comparison | Michigan | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal | Conservatively inclined |
Local Politics | Mixed, with progressive urban areas | Conservative, with some liberal urban pockets |
Religion | Christian, diverse denominations | Christian, predominantly Baptist |
- Michigan tends to lean moderately liberal in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as conservatively inclined
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as Christian and predominantly Baptist
- Michigan's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian and diverse denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Michigan to Missouri
Comparison | Michigan | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bates Elementary School (Ann Arbor) Musson Elementary School (Rochester) Haisley Elementary School (Ann Arbor) | Clayton Elementary School (Clayton) Old Bonhomme Elementary School (Olivette) Wilson School (Clayton) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Smith Middle School (Troy) West Middle School (Rochester) Boulan Park Middle School (Troy) | Ladue Middle School (Ladue) Parkway West Middle School (Chesterfield) Wildwood Middle School (Wildwood) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International Academy (Bloomfield Hills) Troy High School (Troy) Pioneer High School (Ann Arbor) | Clayton High School (Clayton) Ladue Horton Watkins High School (Ladue) Marquette High School (Chesterfield) |
Top 3 private high schools | Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills) Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) The Roeper School (Birmingham) | John Burroughs School (Ladue) Saint Louis Priory School (Creve Coeur) Visitation Academy of St. Louis (St. Louis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Roeper School (Birmingham) Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills) | The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Thomas Jefferson School (St. Louis) Christian Brothers College High School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Okemos Public Schools East Grand Rapids Public Schools Novi Community School District | Clayton School District Ladue School District Parkway School District |
How Much Do Michigan to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 657 miles from Michigan to Missouri will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,575 | 300 ft3 | $5.25 |
1 Bedroom | $2,340 | 450 ft3 | $5.20 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,862 | 750 ft3 | $5.15 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,610 | 1100 ft3 | $5.10 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,080 | 1600 ft3 | $5.05 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,000 | 1800 ft3 | $5.00 |
Top Michigan to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Michigan to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.